Planting
container-grown-
1) Before planting, soak the container. When the soil is moist but
not soggy, slide off or cut off the container. Try to disturb the
root ball as little as possible, but if there are a great many roots
visible on the surface of the ball, gently untangle them. 2)
Carefully place the plant in the hole, spreading disentangled roots
so they don't encircle the ball.
3)
Fill the hole about halfway with the soil you removed, working it
in with your hands to eliminate air pockets. Adjust the trunk of
a tree so it is upright and orient the stems of a shrub as you wish.
4)
Fill the hole with water; when it has drained, add the remaining
soil, tamping it firmly.
5)
Build a small soil mound around the circumfer ence of the planting
hole to help hold water. A generous mulch of chipped bark, compost,
or other organic material will retard evaporation.
Planting
balled-and-burlapped-
In some ways, a balled-and-burlapped plant can be thought of as
growing in a large flexible container. Keep the soil moist, both
to protect the plant and to hold the root ball together. In the
past, when balled plants were wrapped in real burlap, the wrapping
was left in place during planting because it rotted off in time.
Today's wrappings are likely to be synthetic and must be removed,
or they will kill the plant.
1)
Supporting the plant under the ball, not by the trunk or stems,
move it next to the planting hole.
2)
Cut the twine and begin to unwrap the ball. If the root ball and
soil are firmly intact, lift the ball carefully and place it in
the hole. If the root ball is fragile, leave it wrapped while lowering
it into the hole. There, unwrap and carefully shift the ball so
you can slide the wrap out from under it.
3)
From this point, proceed as described for container-grown plants.
Providing
a good start-
Purchased from a reputable nursery or garden center, a new tree
or shrub should not require pruning other than trimming branches
damaged in transport or planting. If gnawing critters, such as rabbits,
are in the area, you can protect the trunk with a wrapping of aluminum
foil, extended above the height of anticipated snow cover.
Providing
a regular supply of water is most impor tant in the first year,
even for drought-tolerant plants. Dry winters are especially hard
on evergreens. Trees usually don't need fertilizer in the first
year; in the second and subsequent years, sprinkle a light dressing
of a balanced granular fertilizer (10-10-10) on the soil in early
spring.
